Local Irish dancers to perform alongside hundreds in open air extravaganza as Walled City Tattoo returns

Irish dancers from Derry who will be performing in the 2014 Walled City Tattoo at Ebrington Square in Derry-Londonderry from the 27th to the 30th of August. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com.

Published:15:28Tuesday 29 July 2014

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Rehearsals are well under way for this year’s Walled City Tattoo which returns to Ebrington Square in Derry~Londonderry at the end of August and will see 550 local, national and international performers entertain up to 18,000 people in an open-air ampitheatre over 4 nights. Amongst this year’s performers are 10 Irish dancers from Derry~Londonderry who are joined by nearly 190 fellow dancers from throughout the North and South of Ireland to form the huge Walled City Tattoo dance troupe.

The 200 Tattoo dancers, who range in age from six to 28, have been recruited from the Highland, Irish and contemporary dance worlds and choreographers Georgina Kee McCarter, Brona Jackson and Bridgett Madden are working with them to create an unforgettable series of dance displays for the show.

The dancers make up only a small proportion of the 550-strong cast of performers who will participate in this summer’s Walled City Tattoo. The Walled City Tattoo will combine the pomp, ceremony and grandeur of traditional Tattoo events with a special Derry~Londonderry twist and bring together an unforgettable cast of musicians, dancers and actors to entertain the 18,000 strong audience in a production that organisers promise will be even bigger and better than the 2013 inaugural show.

North West supergroup Sontas are back this year to provide the musical back drop to the show. Two of the city’s oldest bands, Britannia Concert Band and Hamilton Flute Band will share the stage with the Paris Fire Brigade Band who will show off their unique take on Tattoo entertainment, combining their precise marching skills with some more modern dance moves.

The ever-popular age old tradition of the Massed Pipes and Drums will comprise a spectacle of over 100 pipers and drummers from all over Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany. They will be joined this year by special guests from Malta, the Marsa Scouts Pipes and Drums. Swiss comedy act Star Bugs will add that special comic element to the production with their unique mix of dance, acrobatics and slapstick. And topping off this fantastic roll call of acts is the world renowned Imps Motorcycle Display Team who will wow the crowds with their daring performance.

Event producer James Kee from Sollus Cultural Promotions commented: “We were blown away by the response from audiences, performers and partners last year and can’t wait to present another 4 nights of dazzling entertainment at the end of August. The hope is that the Walled City Tattoo will become an annual event in the Northern Ireland calendar and the reaction to our announcements today go some way in ensuring that dream will hopefully become a reality.”

As with the inaugural 2013 production, the show will combine the pomp, ceremony and grandeur of traditional tattoo events with a special Maiden City twist with this year’s show telling the story of the city’s transport heritage from the local railways to the ship building yards.

A Family Festival Fun Day will run as part of this year’s Walled City Tattoo. Taking place on Friday 29th August, the free event will be open to the public and will give the audience the chance to meet performers, try on costumes, play instruments and watch some very special performances.

The Walled City Tattoo is funded by the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Investment through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, Derry City Council, Ilex and the Ulster Scots Agency and is supported by Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau.